Signaling system.



J. M. JOHNSON.

SIGNALING SYSTEM.

APPLIGATION FILED AUG. 2, 1909.

1,053,038. Patented Feb. 11, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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SIGNALING SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 2, 1909.

Patented Feb. 11, 1913.

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SIGNALING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 2, 1909.

1,053,038. Patented Feb. 11,- 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Z03 {/5 K 5 I \,Z/ [104 JOHN MOBGIE JOHNSON, OF ISHPEIVIING, MICHIGAN.

SIGNALING SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 11,1913.

Original applicationfiled February 23, 1908, Serial No. 417,093. Divided and this application filed August To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JOHN M. JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ishpeming, in the county of Marquette and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Signaling System, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to signaling means, more particularly that employed in connection with the hoisting mechanism of mines, though not necessarily limited thereto, and this application is a division of application, Serial No. 417,093, filed Feb. 23, 1908.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide novel, simple and eifective signaling means of the visual type so arranged that it can be operated as often as desired without danger of incorrectly setting said signal.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a mine, showing the signaling system installed. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the electric circuits. Fig. 3 is a vertical sec tional view through the visual signaling mechanism, looking from the rear. Fig. 4c is a side elevation of one of the circuit closers. Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional View therethrough. Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view.

Similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

In the application above identified, the signaling mechanism is shown and claimed in connection with recording and registering means. No claims are made in the present application for this combination, but the claims cover the signaling mechanism or system per 86. It is shown, however, in connection with the hoisting mechanism of a mine, and as illustrated in Fig. 1, the shaft of said mine is designated by the reference numeral 1, and has two levels respectively designated 2 and 8. An elevator operates in the shaft and may be in the form of a skip t or any other suitable device. The same is raised and lowered by means of a cable 5, which is connected to a hoisting drum 6 operated by an engine. Connected to the hoisting drum Band operating therewith. is

Serial No. 510,818.

recording mechanism designated generally by the reference numeral 8 and constituting part of the subject-matter of the aforementioned application.

The present invention relates to means for signaling the engineer or operator in order that he may know when to hoist the skip or other device 4. To this end, an electric bell of any well known form, and designated 81, located in the engine house or at any proper point with relation to the hoisting mechanism, is included in an electric circuit 82 that also includes a suitable source of electrical energy 83. This circuit extends down into the mine, and has spaced terminals 84L forming parts of circuit closers 71. The terminals are located in the path of movement of cross bars 76 connected to swinging arms 74. It will thus be clearly evident that when a skip is to be hoisted from the mine, the person in control atthe level from which it is to be hoisted, has only to operate the lever 74 so as to carry the cross bar 7 6 into engagement with one set of terminals 84: of the circuit 82. Said circuit will thus be closed and the bell 81 will be sounded. By making and breaking the said circuit, any number of strokes of the bell can be made as desired. There is also employed a visual signal for the engineer, the same comprising a rotary pointer 85 that operates over a dial 86 consecutively numbered as shown. The pointer 85 is connected to a shaft 87, on which is mounted a ratchet wheel 88 and a pinion 89. The pinion 89 is in mesh with a gear wheel 90 to which is connected a return spring 91. An actuating dog 92 operates on the ratchet wheel 88 to effect a step by step rotation thereof, and a consequent winding of the spring 91. The return movement of said ratchet wheel after its movement in one direction by the dog 92 is prevented by a swinging dog 93, pivoted at one end, as shown at 94 and thus being movable into and out of coaction with the ratchet wheel. The operating dog 92 is connected to the lower end of a lever 95 fulcrumed between its ends, as shown at 96, and having a link connection 97 with the armature 98 of an electro-magnet 99. This electro-magnet 99 is in the circuit 82 with the bell 81 and therefore every time said circuit is closed, the armature 98 will be actuated. This will cause the movement of the dog 92 and the consequent rotation of the pointer 85, the dog 93 preventing the return of such pointer after each movement. However, if the arm or dog 93 is raised, the spring 91, reacting on the wheel 90, and pinion 89 will immediately return the pointer to zero. This movement of the cog 93 is effected by a suitable handle 100 having a cable connection 101 with the lever 101 which in turn, has a cable connection 101 with the dog.

The handle 100 is disposed in a convenlent position to be grasped and operated by the engineer in charge. To the lever is connected a return spring 101, which normally maintains said lever against a stop 101 It sometimes may happen, however, that the engineer is not present, or for some other reason, it is desired torepeat the signal. It will be evident that the mechanism must be such that a repetition of the signal will not merely advance the pointer 35. Therefore at each level, which may be considered as a sending station there is provided an addi tional circuit closer 102, which includes terminals 103 that are a part of a circuit 104. This circuit 10% includes a source of electrical energy 105 and an electro-magnet 106. This magnet has an armature 107 cotiperating therewith, and a link 108 connected to the armature is in turn connected to a lever 109. The lever 109 has one end disposed beneath the end of the dog 93. There are other terminals 110 forming a partof the circuit closer, and these terminals are connected to the circuit 82. A swinging operating lever 112 forms a part of the circuit closer 102 and carries a cross bar 113 adapt ed to successively engage the terminals 103 and 110. The cross bar is shown diagram matically, only, in Fig. 2, and the construction ofparts does not appear in detail. The construction will be understood on reference to Figs. 1, 5 and 6, wherein it will be seen that the cross bar is secured to a swinging arm 11% pivoted on the lever. This cross bar operates on the edges of the spaced side walls 115, which constitute the body of the circuit closer, and is thus movable into engagement with the terminals 103 so as to close the circuit 10st. After passing said terminals, the cross bar engages the terminals 110, thus closing the circuit 82. The arm 111 is yieldingly held downwardly with the cross bar upon the edges of the walls by a spring 11.6, one end of which is engaged with the arm, the other end being connected to the lever. Upwardly swinging bridge dogs 117 are located over the terminals 103, being pivot-ally mounted on posts 118 secured to the side walls 115. The bridge dogs 117 are yieldingly held down by springs 119. Vi ith this structure, assum ing that a signal has been given to the engineer at the top of the shaft and it is desired from any cause to repeat the same, the

operator at the level from which the load is to be taken, operates the circuit closer 102. The cross bar 113 moves upwardly on the edges of the side walls 115 below the bridge dogs 117 and into engagement with the terminals 103. The circuit 101 will thus be closed, energizing the magnet 106 which draws its armature 107. As a result, the lever 109 will be operated, which will raise the dog 93 so that the pointer will return to its original or Zero position. The movement of the lever 112 of the circuit closer 102 being continued, the cross bar 113 will strike the terminals 110, thereby closing the circuit 82, and the signal can be repeated. The return of the lever 112 and cross bar 113 to their original positions will not efiect the operation of the dog 93 as said cross bar, on the return movement, will ride over the dogs 117, and be thereby bridged from the terminals 103.

It will be readily seen that T have provided a very simple device whereby the indicator will be first returned to its set position and then moved from its set position to call the attention of the engineer to the fact that it is desired to. have the lift or cage raised from a certain level. No preliminary adjustment of parts is necessary when it is desired to operate the signaling mechanism, and all that is to be done is to move the circuit closer into the circuit-closing position. The cross bar 113 will be thereby caused to ride successively over the members of each pair of terminals so as to successively energize both circuits and thereby first release the holding device so that the indicator will return to the set or initial position and then close the operating circuit so that the indicator will be moved from its set position to give the desired signal.

From the foregoing, it is thought that the construction, operation and many advantages of the herein described invent-ion will be apparent to those skilled in the art, without further description and it will be understood that various changes in the size, shape, proportion and minor details construction, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a signaling system for elevators and similar devices, a normally open signal circuit including a source of current, a normally open restoring circuit including a source of current, an audible signal responsive to the closure of the signal circuit, a

step by step visual signal having a normal constraint toward zero position, electric means responsive to impulses sent over the signal circuitfor actuating the step by step visual signal means in Opposition to its normal constraint, electric means responsive to impulses sent over the restoring circuit for releasing the visual signal means to return to the zero position, and a circuit closer provided with circuit. terminals included in the signal circuit and circuit terminals included in the restoring circuit and With bridging means movable to first close the restoring circuit at the circuit terminals and by a further movement of the bridging means in the same direction to bring such bridging means into operative relation to the circuit terminals in the signal circuit to close and break the signal circuit at the one set of circuit terminals therein as many times as desired.

2. In a signaling system "for elevators and similar devices, a normally open signal circuit including a source of current, a normally open restoring circuit including a source of current, an audible signal responsive to the closure of the signal circuit, a step by step visual signal having a normal constraint toward zero position, electric means responsive to impulses sent over the signal circuit for actuating the step by step visual signal means in opposition. to its normal constraint, electric means responsive to impulses sent over the restoring circuit for releasing the visual signal means to return to the zero position, a circuit closer pro vided with circuit terminals included in the signal circuit and circuit terminals included in the restoring circuit and with bridging means movable progressively to first close the restoring circuit at the circuit terminals and to then close and break the signal cir cuit successively at the second set of circuit terminals as many times as desired, and manually operable mechanical means at the signal receiving station for releasing the visual signal means for movement to the zero position at will.

3. In a signaling system for elevators and other devices, a signal receiving station and signal sending stations distant therefrom. the signal receiving station being provided with an audible signaling means and a visual signaling; means, each responsive to electric impulses, a normally open circuit extending to the distant signal sending stations from the signal receiving station and including a source of current and both the audible and visual signaling means, the said visual signaling means having a normal tendency toward the zero position and movable step by step under the action of electric impulses sent over the signal circuit to indicating positions, circuit closers at the sending stations for the signal circuit only and each manually operable to send as many impulses as desired to the signal receiving station over the signal circuit, another normally open circuit including a source of current, electrically operated releasing means for the visual signaling means at the receiving station for ausing the restoration to the zero position of the visual signal after operation, and a circuit closer at each sending station provided with circuit terminals included in the second named circuit with other circuit terminals included in the first-named circuit and with means for closing the second named circuit, and subsequently closing the first named circuit by a progressive movement of the circuit closing means, the latter being operable to close the associated circuit terminals of the first named circuit as many times as desired.

at. In a signaling system for elevators and other devices, a signal receiving station and signal sending stations distant therefrom, the signal receiving station being provided with an audible signaling means and a visual signaling means each responsive to electric impulses, a normally open circuit including a source of current and extending to the dis tant signal sending stations from the signal receiving station and including both the audible and visual signaling means, the said visual signaling means having a normal tendency toward the zero position and movable step by step by the action of electric impulses sent over the signal circuit to indicating positions, circuit closers at the sending stations for the signal circuit only, and each manually operable to send as many impulses as desired to the signal receiving station over the signaling circuit, another normally open circuit including a source of current, electrically operated releasing means for the visual. signal means at the receiving station for causing restoration to the zero position of the visual signal after operation, a circuit closer for each sending station provided with circuit terminals included in the second named circuit with other circuit terminals included in the first named circuit and with means for closing the second named circuit and subsequently closing the first named circuit by a progressive movement of the circuit closing means, the latter being movable into and out of engagement with the associated circuit terminals of the first named circuit as many times as desired, and manually operable mechanical means at the receiving station for releasing the visual signal means to return to zero position under the normal tendency of such means.

5. In a signaling system for elevators and similar devices, an indicator movable from and having a normal tendency to return to the Zero position, electro-mechanical means for actuating the indicator against its normal tendency, electro -mechanical means for releasing the indicator after actuation to return to zero position under its normal tendency, normally open circuits each including a currentsource and also including one of said means and provided With spaced terminals, the terminals of one circuit being in associated rela tion to the terminals of the other circuit, and a single movable circuit closer manually operable in one direction to first close the circuit controlling the means for causing the return of the indicator to zero position and to then close the circuit for causing the actuation of the indicator to indicating position the circuit closer being movable With relation to the circuit terminals of the indicator actuating circuit to'open and close said circuit as many times as desired.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN MORGIE JOHNSON.

lVitnesses JOHN MURPHY, G. T. DEVINE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

